In
human anatomy
The human body is the structure of a human being. It is composed of many different types of cells that together create tissues and subsequently organ systems. They ensure homeostasis and the viability of the human body.
It comprises a he ...
, the splenic artery or lienal artery is the
blood vessel
The blood vessels are the components of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide away ...
that supplies oxygenated
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...
to the
spleen
The spleen is an organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter. The word spleen comes . . It branches from the
celiac artery
The celiac () artery (also spelled ''coeliac''), also known as the celiac trunk or truncus coeliacus, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. It is about 1.25 cm in length. Branching from the aorta at thoracic vertebra 12 (T12) in ...
, and follows a course
superior to the
pancreas
The pancreas is an organ of the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates. In humans, it is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and functions as a gland. The pancreas is a mixed or heterocrine gland, i.e. it has both an end ...
. It is known for its tortuous path to the spleen.
Structure
The splenic artery gives off branches to the
stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...
and pancreas before reaching the spleen.
Note that the branches of the splenic artery do not reach all the way to the lower part of the greater curvature of the stomach. Instead, that region is supplied by the
right gastroepiploic artery
The right gastroepiploic artery (or right gastro-omental artery) is one of the two terminal branches of the gastroduodenal artery. It runs from right to left along the greater curvature of the stomach, between the layers of the greater omentum, an ...
, a branch of the
gastroduodenal artery
In anatomy, the gastroduodenal artery is a small blood vessel in the abdomen. It supplies blood directly to the pylorus (distal part of the stomach) and proximal part of the duodenum. It also indirectly supplies the pancreatic head (via the anteri ...
. The two gastroepiploic arteries
anastomose
An anastomosis (, plural anastomoses) is a connection or opening between two things (especially cavities or passages) that are normally diverging or branching, such as between blood vessels, leaf veins, or streams. Such a connection may be normal ...
with each other at that point.
Relations
The splenic artery passes between the layers of the
lienorenal ligament
The greater omentum (also the great omentum, omentum majus, gastrocolic omentum, epiploon, or, especially in animals, caul) is a large apron-like fold of visceral peritoneum that hangs down from the stomach. It extends from the greater curvature o ...
. Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named vein, the
splenic vein
The spleen is an organ (biology), organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter. The word spleen comes . , which drains into the
hepatic portal vein
The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents. Approx ...
.
Clinical significance
Splenic artery
aneurysm
An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus (s ...
s are rare, but still the third most common abdominal aneurysm, after aneurysms of the
abdominal aorta
In human anatomy, the abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta (of the thorax).
Structure
The abdominal aorta begins at the level of the thoracic d ...
and
iliac arteries. They may occur in pregnant women in the third trimester and rupture carries a maternal mortality of greater than 50% and a fetal mortality of 70 to 90%. Risk factors include
smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance is burned and the resulting smoke is typically breathed in to be tasted and absorbed into the bloodstream. Most commonly, the substance used is the dried leaves of the tobacco plant, which have bee ...
and
hypertension
Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...
. For the treatment of patients who represent a high surgical risk,
percutaneous {{More citations needed, date=January 2021
In surgery, a percutaneous procedurei.e. Granger et al., 2012 is any medical procedure or method where access to inner organs or other tissue is done via needle-puncture of the skin, rather than by using ...
endovascular
Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that performs various minimally-invasive procedures using medical imaging guidance, such as x-ray fluoroscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound. IR performs b ...
treatment may be considered.
Additional images
File:3D rendered CT of abdominal aortic branches and kidneys.svg, 3D-rendered computed tomography, showing splenic artery at upper right.
File:Gray532.png, The celiac artery and its branches.
File:Gray1190.png, Transverse section of the human spleen
The spleen is an organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter. The word spleen comes . , showing the distribution of the splenic artery and its branches.
File:Gray1192.png, Section of the spleen, showing the termination of the small bloodvessels.
File:Gray1121.png, Posterior abdominal wall, after removal of the peritoneum, showing kidneys, suprarenal capsules, and great vessels.
File:TIEU_0442.gif, Arteries and veins around the pancreas and spleen.
References
#Abbas MA, Stone WM, Fowl RJ, Gloviczki P, Oldenburg WA, Pairolero PC, Hallett JW, Bower TC, Panneton JM, Cherry KJ (2002)."Splenic arterya neurysms: two decades experience at Mayo clinic". ''Ann Vasc Surg.'' 16(4): 442-449.
# Jamsheer NS, Malik M (2001).
Ruptured splenic artery aneurysm. ''Ann Saudi Med. '' 21(5-6): pp. 340–341. Accessed July 30, 2005.
#Pauletto R, Mieres J, Incarbone A, García A, Santaera O (2013).
Exclusión de aneurisma esplénico gigante con técnica de catéteres mother-in-child en paciente de alto riesgo quirúrgico. ''Revista Argentina de Cardioangiología'' Vol. 4(1): pp. 62–65, Buenos Aires (Argentina): Colegio Argentino de Cardioangiología Intervencionista. ISSN 2313-9307, retrieved 11 September 2013.
#Suzuki K, Prates JC, DiDio LJ (1978)."Incidence and surgical importance of the posterior gastricartery", ''Ann. Surg.'' 187(2): 134-136.
#Pauletto R, Mieres J, Incarbone A, García A, Santaera O (2013).
Exclusión de aneurisma esplénico gigante con técnica de catéteres mother-in-child en paciente de alto riesgo quirúrgico. ''Revista Argentina de Cardioangiología'' Vol. 4(1): pp. 62–65, Buenos Aires (Argentina): Colegio Argentino de Cardioangiología Intervencionista. ISSN 2313-9307, retrieved 11 September 2013.
External links
- a case report from Saudi Arabia.
Splenic artery- medterms.com
* - "Stomach, Spleen and Liver: The Splenic Artery"
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{{Authority control
Arteries of the abdomen